Genesis: Abacab CD Track Listing

A list by checkmate

Genesis Abacab (1981)
Abacab (West German ''Target'' Pressing)\n\nOriginally Released September 14, 1981\nCD Edition Released 1987 ??\nAtlantic Gold CD Edition Released June 7, 1994\nRemastered CD Edition Released November 29, 1994\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: After gaining some limited commercial success with Duke, Genesis went for the jugular of American radio with the well-crafted pop of Abacab. While there are still some traces of their art rock past, the album is primarily filled with a new wave sound and concise songs. Phil Collins, who replaced Peter Gabriel years earlier as the lead vocalist, was finally comfortable with his role as the leader of the band, and his influence is more prominent. Although he's not a strong vocalist, Collins more than makes up for it with passionate performances. "Man on the Corner," a modest hit, managed to make social commentary about the homeless without feeling preachy. Abacab rose to number seven on the charts, which is a tribute the band's ability to bring intellectual pop to the masses with catchy melodies. Genesis is no ordinary pop band -- they use driving beats and unusual syncopation (by pop standards) on the title track and "No Reply at All," a song that employs the horn section from Earth, Wind & Fire. This album is one of their most enjoyable, and it gave Genesis the success and recognition they deserved. -- Vik Iyengar\n\nAmazon.com essential recording\nPhil Collins might be swinging away the late '90s, but in 1981 he was sharpening his pop chops, from his first solo offering to this, the first Genesis album to break the hallowed million-copy mark stateside. But Abacab wasn't entirely about charting Top 40 singles ("No Reply At All," "Man on the Corner," and the title track); it still exhibited some late-stage evidence of a trio courting the art-rock muse that had graced its past ("Who Dunnit," "Dodo," "Keep It Dark"). However, by 1983's eponymous follow-up, the hit factory that was Genesis in the mid- to late-1980s was operating full steam ahead, and the angel Gabriel's spectre had all but vanished. Then, there were truly only three. --Bob Michaels\n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nperfect balance between musicianship/production/commercialism , October 16, 2005 \nReviewer: Darren S. Wools "duke 1980" (minneapolis)\n1981 - This is a pivotal album for genesis because around this time there were many changes occurring. This was the first genesis album following phil's first solo album (face value) and this gave him alot of confidence and he was writing much more aggressively on abacab. this album was also the first recorded in their newly purchased studio (The Farm). This gave the 3 as much time to record and produce as they needed. Also, dave hentschel had left after many years of production help and was replaced by hugh padgham. Padgham would become a genesis production regular after this album. He also worked with phil on his solo albums and worked with others such as sting. Finally, this is the first and only time genesis used outside muscicians on a studio album. Earth, Wind, and Fire played horns on No reply at All and Paperlate(which was not on the album). Genesis showed they could be great muscicians and have equal commercial appeal in one album. Abacab is a great song. It is very simple but very technical at the same time. It shows that sometimes less is more. This album also shows the improtance of the drum machine in genesis music. It was used as background rhythm with live drums over it just like songs in DUKE where genesis first introduced the drum machine in their music. Man on the corner is an awesome song with great drum patterns both electronic and acoustic. Again, phil's voice is only getting stronger and more confident. overall, a great album and it shows the strong musicianship of the 3 guys and constant evolution of the band. This was a great time for genesis fans because they never knew what they were going to get. Also, there are rare b-sides around likr you might recall, paperlate, naminau, submarine, and me and virgil. You can fine some of these on the second archive set (1976-1992) \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nanother great album--where the "new" Genesis truly arrived, February 27, 2005 \nReviewer: Dave "missing person" (United States)\n"Abacab", originally released in September of 1981, was a major turning point for Genesis--indeed, this is the album that truly marks the beginning of the "pop"-era Genesis, as it's generally referred to. There's a certain timeless gloss & punchiness here that sets this album apart from all of the Genesis albums that came before it, and it 'sets the stage', so to speak, for their next couple of albums that followed. It's not exactly a coincidence either--David Hentschel who co-produced the previous two albums was gone, & this album was co-produced by Hugh Padgham who had also co-produced Phil Collins' debut solo album from earlier the same year. "Abacab" was also the first album the group recorded at their own studio. Now, don't get the wrong idea--contrary to what certain people will try to make you believe, this is not an album of light & frothy 'sell-out' pop songs. The level of musical intelligence & sophistication is still astonishing, & track after track is intoxicatingly catchy. The 7+ minute title track starts the album off with a bang--it's got an arresting moody atmosphere, & it's simply loaded with savvy keyboard & guitar licks from Tony Banks & Mike Rutherford respectively, laid over Phil Collins' crisp drumming. Tony Banks' solo composition "Me And Sarah Jane" is a definitive example of his compositional brilliance--it flows seamlessly from section to section, working its way through different moods; it truly takes you on a journey. "Dodo" starts off with an exciting, dramatic blast before the irresitible synth riff kicks in which is followed by a contemplative minor-keyed section & eventually works its way back to the opening section in thrlling fashion. All that said, this ain't a run of the mill "pop" album by any means! Yes, there are some strongly pop-rock-flavored tracks, but they're great in their own right, like the hyperactive, highly melodic "No Reply At All", Phil's haunting ballad "Man On the Corner", & Mike's plodding, yet soulful & soaring ballad "Like It Or Not" with wonderfully passionate Phil vocals. The ultra crafty "Keep It Dark" is catchy as well as effectively dramatic, and the jokey, quasi-atonal & repetitive "Who Dunnit?" is a tad annoying, but overall it's exhilirating silly. Quite simply, "Abacab" is one in a long string of masterpiece albums that Genesis put out. Like so many of their other albums, "Abacab" is a supremely rich listening experience from an astonishingly creative & consistent band, Genesis. \n\nTower Records.com Product Notes:\nGenesis: Phil Collins (vocals, drums); Mike Rutherford (guitar, bass); Tony Banks (keyboards).\n\nRecorded at the Farm, Surrey, England.\n\nDigitally remastered by Nick Davis, Geoff Callingham & Chris Blair.\n\nAt the dawn of the '80s, many '70s prog-rockers (Yes, Rush, etc.) trimmed away the musical fat in an attempt to keep current. Genesis's sonic reduction was an unprecedented aesthetic and commercial success. Though traditionalists cried foul, ABACAB was in fact more inventive and memorable than its comparatively leaden predecessor DUKE.\n\nThe R&B rhythms and punchy Earth, Wind & Fire horns on "No Reply At All" foreshadow Phil Collins's more commercial solo career, but the track breathes with an undeniable vitality. The symphonic grandeur of old is gone, replaced by a sparser, more rhythm-oriented style. In this manner, each individual part of the arrangements receives greater focus and import. As always, there are some agreeably unusual song subjects, such as the alien abduction of "Keep It Dark." "Whodunnit" sounds more like Devo than like Gentle Giant, but the skewed melodic sensibility is a link to Genesis's Gabriel-era glory days. Utilizing simpler melodies and more syncopated rhythms ("Me and Sarah Jane" even sports a reggae feel), ABACAB simultaneously simplifies and expands the Genesis sound.

Categories

Latest lists

Genesis: Abacab CD Track Listing

Category

Tags

cyList

Legal